Acute treatment has a different job from long-term urate lowering
Anti-inflammatory treatments such as an NSAID, colchicine or corticosteroid may be used for a flare depending on the individual clinical situation.
Protecting the joint can help with comfort
Reducing painful loading, using your established flare plan and keeping the situation simple can make a difficult few days easier to manage.
Do not assume every hot swollen joint is gout
A first or uncertain episode should be medically assessed. Fever or feeling very unwell with a hot swollen joint can require urgent assessment.